Program Specialist, Energy Efficiency

ICF; Saint Paul (MN); Remote; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking a Program Specialist to support Residential New Construction Programs in Minnesota. You will work with builders, HERS raters, trade allies, and internal teams to implement, report, and improve program delivery while advancing energy efficiency.

You will engage stakeholders, track metrics, support budgeting and forecasting, and help manage documentation and compliance. Remote Minnesota work options are available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in energy, environment, sustainability or related field.
• 2+ years in energy-efficiency programs or residential construction.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day program implementation across residential new construction programs.
• Coordinate meetings, communications, and stakeholder follow-up.
• Track performance metrics: participation, energy savings, incentives, budgets.
• Assist with monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports.
• Support forecasting, budgeting, and financial tracking activities.
• Coordinate intake, eligibility reviews, incentives, invoicing, and payments.
• Review documentation and assist with questions on program requirements.
• Support QA reviews, documentation management, and process improvements.
• Maintain program systems, databases, and reporting tools.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure successful program execution.
• Travel up to 15% locally for meetings and events

Skills

Project coordination

Energy efficiency

Stakeholder collaboration

Data analysis

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's in Energy/Env Science or related

Tools

Ekotrope

Sightline

Salesforce

Power BI

Jira

FocusPoint

Job description

Ready to Make a Difference?

Join ICF's growing energy team and help advance energy efficiency, high-performance construction, and sustainability initiatives across Minnesota. We're seeking a Program Specialist to support the delivery of residential new construction programs by working closely with builders, developers, Home Energy Rating System (HERS) raters, trade allies, affordable housing partners, and internal teams.

Description

Program Specialist

Residential New Construction Programs

Location: Remote Minnesota

Ready to Make a Difference?

Join ICF's growing energy team and help advance energy efficiency, high-performance construction, and sustainability initiatives across Minnesota. We're seeking a Program Specialist to support the delivery of residential new construction programs by working closely with builders, developers, Home Energy Rating System (HERS) raters, trade allies, affordable housing partners, and internal teams.

In this role, you'll contribute to program implementation, reporting, operational support, participant engagement, and continuous improvement efforts across Minnesota's residential new construction portfolio. Working closely with program leadership and key stakeholders, you'll help support successful program delivery while building expertise in energy efficiency, residential construction, and utility-sponsored programs.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Flexible ways of working: Enjoy remote and hybrid work options that support work-life balance and personal well-being.
• Professional growth: Access training, mentoring, tuition assistance, professional certifications, and opportunities to grow within ICF's energy and sustainability practice.
• Meaningful work: Help advance energy-efficient construction practices, improve housing performance, and support communities working toward their energy and sustainability goals.
• Collaborative team environment: Work alongside experienced program managers, building science professionals, engineers, energy experts, and national subject matter specialists.
• Variety and impact: Support multiple programs and initiatives while gaining exposure to program management, operations, reporting, forecasting, technology implementation, and market transformation efforts.
• Comprehensive benefits: Take advantage of competitive health and wellness benefits, retirement savings programs, paid time off, and employee stock purchase opportunities

What You Will Be Doing

• Support day-to-day program implementation, administration, and delivery across assigned residential new construction programs.
• Coordinate meetings, communications, presentations, action items, and stakeholder follow-up activities.
• Track and support program performance metrics, including participation, energy savings, incentive activity, budgets, and other program goals.
• Assist with reporting activities, including data collection, quality checks, analysis, and preparation of monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports.
• Support forecasting, planning, budgeting, and financial tracking activities through data gathering, analysis, and monitoring of program expenditures.
• Coordinate application intake, eligibility reviews, incentive processing, invoicing, payment tracking, reconciliation, and issue resolution.
• Review program documentation and assist with participant, builder, trade ally, and stakeholder questions related to program requirements and incentive pathways.
• Support quality assurance reviews, documentation management, process improvements, and corrective action activities.
• Maintain program systems, databases, reporting tools, tracking resources, and program documentation.
• Track system issues, enhancement requests, and reporting needs while working with internal teams toward resolution.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, training materials, reporting calendars, SharePoint resources, and other program documentation.
• Support onboarding, outreach, training, and ongoing engagement activities with builders, developers, HERS raters, trade allies, and affordable housing partners.
• Collaborate with internal teams including program delivery, operations, IT, finance, customer care, marketing, and subcontractors to support successful program execution.
• Assist with regulatory filings, evaluations, audits, information requests, and other program compliance activities.
• Support program startup, transition, closeout, and special project activities as assigned.
• Travel Requirements: Reliable transportation for up to 15% local travel for meetings, events and conferences

What We Need You To Have (minimum Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in Energy, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration or a related field (or applicants can substitute one year of related experience for one year of education)
• 2+ years of experience supporting energy-efficiency programs, residential construction programs, project coordination, program operations and/or related

What Would Be Useful (preferred Qualifications)

• Experience supporting utility energy-efficiency programs, residential new construction programs, or related customer-facing initiatives.
• Understanding of building science, above-code construction, residential energy codes, whole-home performance, HERS ratings, or RESNET standards.
• Experience working with builders, developers, contractors, HERS raters, affordable housing organizations, trade allies, or industry associations.
• Familiarity with program eligibility requirements, incentive programs, construction documentation, quality assurance processes, or compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting reporting, data analysis, budgeting, operational processes, or customer-facing program activities.
• Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders, deliverables, or projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting process improvement efforts, workflow documentation, technology implementations, user acceptance testing, or operational enhancements.
• Familiarity with systems such as Ekotrope, Sightline, Salesforce, Power BI, Jira, FocusPoint, or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of Minnesota's residential construction market and energy-efficiency landscape.
• Project management coursework, training, or certification is a plus.

Professional Skills You Will Use

• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Detail-oriented and comfortable working with technical, financial, and operational information.
• Able to learn complex program requirements and communicate them effectively to participants, stakeholders, and internal teams.
• Proactive, resourceful, and able to identify issues and support timely resolution.